[NABS-L] NABS Notes- May 2025

[Amina Orzueva1]

Hello NABS,
I hope you are doing well as the spring semester comes to a close.
The May edition of NABS Notes has been released. Please check it out below.
https://nabslink.org/nabs-notes/may2025
Nabs Notes - May 2025
"A flower blossoms for its own joy." - Oscar Wilde

Welcome to the May edition of our NABS Notes. As we approach the end of the academic year, this month offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on all that has been accomplished and to prepare for what lies ahead. Whether you are completing your studies, planning your next steps, or simply taking a moment to pause and regroup, May is a time of transition and anticipation. We hope this edition supports and inspires you as you move forward with purpose and confidence. If you have any questions as you read, don't hesitate to reach out to the respective committee chair or anyone from NABS leadership-we're always here to connect with you.
In this edition you will find:

  *   A message from Josh Olukanni, Second Vice President of the National Association of Blind Students
  *   May Town Hall Announcement
  *   Committee Updates
  *   State Division Spotlights

A Message from Josh Olukanni, Second Vice President of the National Association of Blind Students
Dear National Association of Blind Students,
As we gear up for our annual National Convention, the energy within NABS is nothing short of electric! This time of year brings a special kind of excitement-one that's rooted in our shared purpose, our unwavering commitment to advocacy, and the deep friendships that unite us across the country.
Our committees have been hard at work laying the foundation for an unforgettable convention experience. The Fundraising Committee is preparing our ever-popular Walkathon and designing new, exclusive NABS merchandise-so stay tuned for details on how you can support these efforts and show off your NABS pride! The Membership Committee continues to connect new members to the heart of our community through our mentorship program. We encourage all mentors and mentees to take this opportunity to connect in person during convention-it's a great way to deepen those meaningful relationships. Meanwhile, our Advocacy Committee is laser-focused on the critical issues affecting blind students, including the ongoing implications of the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit. Now more than ever, our voices must be loud, united, and persistent. And let's not forget our Content Creation Committee, which is doing a phenomenal job producing fun, motivating, and informative content that keeps us all inspired and in the loop.
In addition to convention planning, we've been continuing to build our regional presence through dynamic seminars. I had the honor of chairing the planning committee for this year's Midwest Seminar, which focused on one of the most pressing issues for blind students today: navigating the path to employment. Centered around the theme of networking and career-building, the seminar provided attendees with practical tools, personal connections, and real-world insight into breaking down barriers to employment. From interactive workshops to inspiring panel discussions, the weekend was nothing short of transformative. The stories shared, friendships formed, and confidence built were a powerful reminder of what's possible when blind students come together with purpose.
Looking ahead, we're excited to announce that the Mid-Atlantic Seminar is on the horizon! Planning is already underway, and we hope to make it just as impactful. If you're interested in leadership, event planning, or just want to help create a meaningful experience for your peers, I encourage you to get involved in the planning process. These seminars are built by students, for students-and your voice matters.
In true NABS fashion, we're not just preparing for a convention-we're building a space where blind students can learn, lead, laugh, and lift one another up. Whether this is your first or your fifteenth convention, we hope you'll dive in and get involved. We can't wait to see you in person and continue building this vibrant community together. Let's make this National Convention one to remember!
Best regards,
Joshua Olukanni
2nd Vice President, National Association of Blind Students

May Town Hall Announcement
The next NABS Town Hall will take place next Sunday, May 4th, 2025, at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Please join<zoom.us/my/blindstudents> our usual Zoom room to hear about what you can look forward to in the coming weeks and how to get involved during your newly found free time! If you have any questions regarding NABS or anything blind student related, please fill out this form<https://forms.gle/67pAvT1cqTrBm95s8>. The form provides you with the option of remaining anonymous.

Committee Updates
NABS relies on our four committees to function smoothly and bring various methods of engagement and connection with members. Below, you'll find recent updates and information on upcoming events and initiatives from all four committees.

Advocacy Committee
The Advocacy Committee has been hard at work connecting with students nationwide through their monthly Disability Advocacy Resilience Education (DARE) calls. These zoom gatherings are designed to educate students about advocacy both at the legal and interpersonal levels. On March 23, the Advocacy Committee's Governmental and Legal Taskforce led a DARE call which highlighted the importance of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability by entities that receive funding from the federal Government. After Sanho Steele-Louchart, coordinator of the National Federation of the Blind's Legal Program, provided an overview of Section 504, committee chair Kaleigh Brendle explained the Texas v. Kennedy case in which seventeen states are suing the Department of Health and Human Services to strike down Section 504. Avah Orellana, a committee co-chair, then discussed prior rulings in the case and provided information about past segregation of disabled people and the nonconsensual institutionalization of disabled students in other states. Finally, Carlton Anne Cook Walker, a long-time NFB member and advocate for blind students, explained how students can make their voices heard in opposition to this case. The committee also held another DARE call on April 19th which discussed the lived experiences of multiply disabled Federationists. The call featured a panel moderated by co-chair Oscar Mejia Garcia including Kaleigh Brendle, Melissa Riccobono and Ellana Crew as panelists. They discussed strategies which they employ in navigating their disabilities in their professional lives and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, they provided information on mentorship in the multiply disabled space.
The committee is in the process of planning a DARE call for May which will provide updates on the Texas V. Kennedy Case. Additionally, they will likely discuss the A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools case, a lawsuit pending before the Supreme Court which could have implications for both Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A recording of the March DARE call can be found on our NABS YouTube channel<https://www.youtube.com/@NABSlink/videos>, and the call from April will be uploaded shortly. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Kaleigh Brendle, chair of the Advocacy Committee, at kaleighbrendle at gmail.com<mailto:kaleighbrendle at gmail.com>.

Content Creation Committee
Our Content creation Committee has been busy during the last couple of months creating podcasts, videos, and content for blind students nationwide. We recently released a video entitled "Leadership Lessons from the Blind Students Shaping the Future<https://youtu.be/V_eZnv3WKWA?si=sfheMHurRcfgedPO>", the first in a video series of personal student leader testimonies discussing what they gained by attending our Leadership Seminar in Baltimore, Maryland. Stay tuned for more videos to be released on Fridays at 12:00 p.m. EST. You can access our videos via the NABS Insta Account,<https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fnabslink%2F&is_from_rle> TikTok,<https://www.tiktok.com/@nabslink> or YouTube shorts<https://www.youtube.com/@NABSlink/shorts>. Additionally, we released an episode of the NABS Now Podcast entitled "Our Rights on the Line - Why Section 504 Matters<https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QxFaAtbcweWTkYi2koVQm?si=d2f21b46daa3414f>" which discusses the continued attacks on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and how blind students like you can make a difference.
As always, we appreciate your support on our social media platforms. Please keep reposting, sharing, and boosting our content. If you have any questions or feedback for us, please do not hesitate to reach out to our chair, Noah Carver, at noah.t.carver at outlook.com<mailto:noah.t.carver at outlook.com>, or drop us a line in our WhatsApp Chat<https://chat.whatsapp.com/FBaGcxKgKd8CjiEQmQO0l8>.

Fundraising Committee
Our NABS Fundraising Committee has been at work on some exciting fundraisers coming up in the next couple of months. We have popular fundraisers that you might be familiar with, and we are working hard on them right now, including our annual Walk-A-Thon. You will want to keep on the lookout for upcoming messages regarding this fundraiser as we are scheduled to launch it sometime in May. Our next fundraiser that we are working on is often a favorite: our merchandise fundraiser where we will be selling exciting items at the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Exhibit Hall in New Orleans, LA. We'll be sharing what those items are very soon!
Have questions regarding fundraising? Reach out to Zachary Ledford, chair of the Fundraising Committee at ledford.zachary38 at gmail.com<mailto:ledford.zachary38 at gmail.com>.

Membership Committee
The Membership Committee would like to remind all students that membership resets at the beginning of each year. Please fill out this form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5EhC27nqpG8plnZvt0ChJ_Jpyo1svyoryqOYZRJFpVWbYpA/viewform> and send in the $5 dues through Zel at nabs.president at gmail.com, PayPal @NabsPayments or through the website. Being a member of the National Association of Blind Students offers many perks such as participation at the business meeting, voting in elections, etc.
Please join our WhatsApp community<tinyurl.com/nabschat> to connect with students across the country. We have a channel for each committee as well as a Resources channel, Q&A channel, and a Social channel that stays active. WhatsApp gives you the opportunity to mute specific channels while still staying updated on initiatives you care about.
We host at least one virtual event every month. During April, we hosted a song trivia night where participants competed to guess songs across various categories such as pop, country, rock, etc. The committee is working on the May social call. The details will be posted across our social media as well as our WhatsApp community.
If you have suggestions for future events, want to get involved or learn more about the committee, please reach out to Nikhil Dadlani at nikkidadlani at gmail.com<mailto:nikkidadlani at gmail.com>.

State Division Spotlights
We are extremely proud of all that student organizations are doing across the country. In each edition, we highlight states which are providing excellent programming, community, and engagement to students in their state.

Florida
The Florida association of Blind students is a proud division of the national Federation of the blind of Florida, and we strive to advocate for and elevate the lives of blind students in the great Sunshine State. Here's a little bit of what we've been up to in 2024/2025:
We began our year in October with the formation of a new seven-member board, united by a shared commitment to revitalizing and strengthening the division. Our initial focus was on key administrative updates to streamline operations and enhance communication. These included establishing a shared Google Drive for document organization and creating a dedicated email account for donations and division correspondence. Additionally, we regained control of our Instagram and TikTok accounts, allowing us to reestablish and grow our social media presence.
Building on this foundation, we launched several initiatives designed to expand and energize our division. One of our first major steps was the formation of a Membership Committee charged with statewide outreach and member engagement. Their early efforts centered on hosting engaging and accessible social events, including RS Games nights, a QC Games session, and a movie night featuring Father of the Bride. The committee is actively planning future events such as trivia nights and other interactive gatherings. They also kicked off a social media initiative to raise awareness and connect with blind students across Florida via TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Additional outreach plans include partnering with colleges and universities, presenting at local training centers, and continuing to strengthen our statewide presence.
In addition, we launched a Fundraising Committee which has already successfully organized events like a Double Good popcorn sale and a trivia night. The committee is currently planning upcoming fundraisers, including a gaming-themed event and a restaurant fundraiser in collaboration with a local business.
We have also made our regular meetings more engaging and informative. One of our board's goals has been to transform meetings into dynamic learning opportunities. To that end, we now conclude each meeting with a relevant presentation. Topics have included national advocacy through the Washington Seminar and a panel discussion on domestic and international travel. Upcoming presentations will focus on study skills, student-friendly cooking, and classroom self-advocacy.
A standout achievement this year was sending four students to the Washington Seminar-the largest student delegation Florida has ever sent. This milestone reflects our growing commitment to empowering students and ensuring their voices are heard at the national level.

Louisiana
The Louisiana Association of Blind Students has been busy during the last couple of months. During the student meeting at our state convention which took place at the end of March, we elected a new board. Two of our new board members are first timers in our organization. Now, our new president, Taylor Franks, is leading efforts to expand LABS. In addition to our GroupMe, Facebook, and WhatsApp platforms which we used prior to our election, she has also created a text messaging group chat where our board has been adding blind students we know from around the state. LABS Will be hosting a zoom call on Sunday, May 4th, to discuss strategies for socializing as blind people and allowing our board to learn more about the students in our state. We hope to host one to two zoom calls per month which will highlight different topics meant to help blind students succeed in everything they aspire to. We will also begin planning fundraising efforts for our national convention.
We are ultimately excited to expand the Louisiana Association of blind students. We look forward to reaching out to as many students as we can and helping them learn how they can live the lives they want!

Closing and contact info
This concludes May's edition of NABS Notes. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions for future editions, please reach out to Amina Orzueva, editor of NABS Notes, at aminaorzueva at gmail.com<mailto:aminaorzueva at gmail.com>.